Gear and Packing
Backpacking gear, as well as packing techniques, are pretty individual. Everyone has the gear and techniques they think are best. Everyone has different "can't live without" items. Like most, I figured out what works best for me by seeking out advice from experienced backpackers, then making it suite my individual tastes and needs. The hardest thing is balancing weight vs' comfort. The longer the trip, the harder this gets.
This is how I am packing for our upcoming 7-8 day trip on the Appalachian trail. Temps will most likely be upper 30's to low 40's at night, with temps in the 50-mid 60 degree range during the day.
This is how I am packing for our upcoming 7-8 day trip on the Appalachian trail. Temps will most likely be upper 30's to low 40's at night, with temps in the 50-mid 60 degree range during the day.
Base Pack Weight (All gear except food and water) - 19lbs 4.19oz
A good goal for a base weight, which is all your gear except for your food and water is 15-20lbs.
A good 7-10 day goal weight is 30lbs. The lighter you can go, the happier you'll be.
This is all of my gear all laid out. It looks like a lot but it's just the essentials. Lets break it all down.
A good 7-10 day goal weight is 30lbs. The lighter you can go, the happier you'll be.
This is all of my gear all laid out. It looks like a lot but it's just the essentials. Lets break it all down.
Emergency/Essential Gear
Items include headlamp and extra batteries for it, mace, bug-spray, nail clippers, duct tape, lip balm, leatherman, rope*, first aid kit, extra bobby pins, safety pins, and extra body jewelry in case any falls out.
*Rope is a good multi-purpose item. Can be used for building an emergency shelter, makes a good clothesline for wet clothes, also used for bear-bagging.
*Rope is a good multi-purpose item. Can be used for building an emergency shelter, makes a good clothesline for wet clothes, also used for bear-bagging.
Electronics/Writing
Small pad for journaling, plus space pen. Phone, phone case, extra battery for phone. Camera, camera case, extra batteries for camera.
Personal Necessities
Pills & vitamins, toothbrush, breath drops, deodorant (repackaged), body glide (repackaged), contact lens re-wetting drops, contact lens case, glasses in case, Moleskin, qtips, alcohol swabs, sunglasses in case, comb, hydrogen peroxide, nose drops, sudafed, Diva cup, p-style, p-bottle (nalgene).
*Notes: I wear contacts that can be slept in so I don't carry contact solution. In an emergency I use my re-wetting drops to temporarily store my lenses. Not ideal, but very lightweight and it's not something I've had to do yet, fortunately. And the p-bottle is, yes, as gross as it sounds. But trust me, if it's pouring down rain in the middle of the night and you really have to pee it's really hard to get out of a two man tent without letting water in. With a down sleeping bag you can't play around with water getting into the tent. Many seasoned backpackers carry a bottle to hold urine in bad/ very cold weather.
*Notes: I wear contacts that can be slept in so I don't carry contact solution. In an emergency I use my re-wetting drops to temporarily store my lenses. Not ideal, but very lightweight and it's not something I've had to do yet, fortunately. And the p-bottle is, yes, as gross as it sounds. But trust me, if it's pouring down rain in the middle of the night and you really have to pee it's really hard to get out of a two man tent without letting water in. With a down sleeping bag you can't play around with water getting into the tent. Many seasoned backpackers carry a bottle to hold urine in bad/ very cold weather.
Rain Gear
I keep my rain gear pretty simple. Rain poncho and a rain hat. Both Gore-Tex and Polyester.
Extra Clothing
I carry very little in the way of extra clothes, I carry one set of hiking clothes...the one I'm wearing, in order to save weight. I carry a set of polypropylene thermals to sleep in. One set of extra socks, in this case my very warm wools socks for sleeping in. One extra set of underwear, a knit cap, and a pair of camp shoes.
A lot of backpackers consider camp shoes expendable, I do not. Once I take my hiking shoes off in camp I don't want to put them on until the next morning. These also work well for deep water crossings to keep your shoes and socks dry.
The knit cap serves two purposes, I use it to sleep if it's really cold at night, I also put my package of food inside it while it re-hydrates. Helps hold in the heat and also protects my hands from the hot bag while I'm eating.
A lot of backpackers consider camp shoes expendable, I do not. Once I take my hiking shoes off in camp I don't want to put them on until the next morning. These also work well for deep water crossings to keep your shoes and socks dry.
The knit cap serves two purposes, I use it to sleep if it's really cold at night, I also put my package of food inside it while it re-hydrates. Helps hold in the heat and also protects my hands from the hot bag while I'm eating.
Sleeping Gear
Big Agnes 20 degree down sleeping bag (mummy). Big Agnes insulated sleeping pad (mummy), fleece sleeping bag liner, sun dreamer padded pillow case.
The pillow case will hold extra gear while I sleep and serve as a pillow. For this trip I think I'm also going to swap out my fleece sleeping bag liner for a lightweight fleece jacket. The jacket will probably be what goes in the pillow at night.
The pillow case will hold extra gear while I sleep and serve as a pillow. For this trip I think I'm also going to swap out my fleece sleeping bag liner for a lightweight fleece jacket. The jacket will probably be what goes in the pillow at night.
Water (2 liters) & Purification
I use a Camelbak reservoir to keep hydrated. Holds 2-liters and is really easy to refill. Also, this trip will be our first trip with a Sawyer Squeeze filter. My husband is carrying the actual filter and the largest bag. I'm carrying two of the smaller bags. We'll stop on our way into camp to fill up the extra bags in addition to topping off our water reservoirs, that way we'll have plenty of water for cooking and cleaning up without carrying extra water around all day.
Water Backup
In addition to a water filter I always carry a backup system on multi-day trips. The Katadyn Micro-pur tablets can be used if water is particularly filthy too, as can the coffee filters. To preserve the life of your filter in really nasty water you can pour the water through the coffee filter before running it through the filter to keep the debris from plugging up the filter quickly.
The coffee filter/chemical treatment is all some hikers carry. I found the water extremely unpalatable the first time we tried this. It tasted kind of like chlorinated pond...I ended up getting somewhat dehydrated that trip.
The coffee filter/chemical treatment is all some hikers carry. I found the water extremely unpalatable the first time we tried this. It tasted kind of like chlorinated pond...I ended up getting somewhat dehydrated that trip.
Cooking
Esbit stove, solid fuel tablets, pot with lid and handle, measuring cup, lighter, waterproof matches.
Most ultra-lighters would scoff at my measuring cup and redundant waterproof matches. The measuring cup is just easier since I often cook two packets of food, a meal and a side, plus my husband and I have two different sized pots. Trying to work without the measuring cup was a PITA. As far as matches and a lighter, I feel better having matches as a backup and they weigh less than an ounce so I don't worry about it.
Most ultra-lighters would scoff at my measuring cup and redundant waterproof matches. The measuring cup is just easier since I often cook two packets of food, a meal and a side, plus my husband and I have two different sized pots. Trying to work without the measuring cup was a PITA. As far as matches and a lighter, I feel better having matches as a backup and they weigh less than an ounce so I don't worry about it.
Cleaning
1 dish cloth, camp soap, 2 shammies cut down, 1 pkg handy saks.
Dish cloth is for washing dishes, 1 shammy is for drying and the other is for general purpose drying of things other than dishes.
Dish cloth is for washing dishes, 1 shammy is for drying and the other is for general purpose drying of things other than dishes.
Utensils
We usually eat mostly dehydrated food on the trail. The food is reheated either in the bag it comes in, or in a freezer bag. This is the simplest and neatest way to cook on the trail. All a person needs is a spoon to eat with.
On our first 3 day trip I really started to miss having something other than water to drink so I carry a small drinking vessel as well. I chose this because the lid keeps it from spilling and also having a lid keeps the sugary drink from attracting bugs and wasps. I just rinse it out really good after each use and then wash it when I get home.
On our first 3 day trip I really started to miss having something other than water to drink so I carry a small drinking vessel as well. I chose this because the lid keeps it from spilling and also having a lid keeps the sugary drink from attracting bugs and wasps. I just rinse it out really good after each use and then wash it when I get home.
Meals
Believe it or not I've got 8 days worth of food in these bags. The green bag stores my dinners. The orange one stores my breakfast and lunch, and the little blue bag is the one I use to keep the food for each day accessible in my pack. I refill it in camp each morning.
Breakfast
This is my breakfast for 8 days. Each morning I'll have my caffeinated sport beans, a granola bar, and a packet of powdered drink mix. Though one morning I'll be treating myself to chocolate covered coffee beans. :)
Lunch
We always make it a point to stop around 11am or so for a lunch break. Usually we try to find a nice view to sit at to have lunch. Lunch for me consists of a packet of chocolate peanut butter, a fruit strip, another packet of caffeine jelly beans, and I will also be adding a Reese's peanut butter cup and a strip of beef jerky to each lunch.
Dinner
Dinner consists of freeze dried backpacker food and a packet of flavored drink mix. Believe it or not, it really is quite good. I find that the variety of single serve meals at the local stores tend to be disappointing. The best way to remedy that is to buy the two serving meals and repackage them. I recommend adding a side dish though because the double serving meals aren't really enough by themselves after a full day of hiking.
The day before you leave just repackage the double serving meals into smaller single-serve freezer bags. I like to use the vacuum sealing kind to keep moisture down. Then I recommend eating the meals you've repackaged first, especially if it's particularly humid where you are. It's a good idea to pack a few extra freezer bags as well, in case one gets punctured.
The day before you leave just repackage the double serving meals into smaller single-serve freezer bags. I like to use the vacuum sealing kind to keep moisture down. Then I recommend eating the meals you've repackaged first, especially if it's particularly humid where you are. It's a good idea to pack a few extra freezer bags as well, in case one gets punctured.
Packing Tip - Trash compactor bag.
Most backpacks are water-resistant, but even a water-proof bag, isn't going to stay water- proof after several days in the rain. One of the single biggest risks of carrying a down sleeping bag is water! Down loses it's ability to insulate once it's wet and the one thing a cold, wet, hiker wants is a warm, dry, sleeping bag. The lightest, cheapest, way to accomplish this is to line your backpack with a thick bag, either a contractor bag or a bag designed for a trash compactor. I find the white trash compactor bags to be ideal because they're still durable, yet the white allows light through, so when you're looking for something in your pack you're able to still see down into the pack.
Smaller items that need to be water-proofed can easily be stowed in plastic freezer bags.
Smaller items that need to be water-proofed can easily be stowed in plastic freezer bags.
Packing
Place all the items that need to stay dry into the compactor bag and fold it down. You can then place things that don't need to be water-proofed, or things that are stowed in freezer bags on top.
This also protects your stuff from risk of leaks from your water reservoir. :)
This also protects your stuff from risk of leaks from your water reservoir. :)
All packed up.
Heavy items should go low and centered as much as possible in your pack, with lighter items near the top. I also like to put my more breakable items in the very top of the pack, that way they are least likely to get crushed if I fall. So, headlamp, glasses, phone and such all go at the very top in freezer bags.
My camp shoes will actually start out in my backpack, then if they get particularly muddy, or dirty can be strapped to the outside. I prefer to have as little as possible strapped outside the pack though to keep the pack as compact as possible. It also keep things, branches, etc., from snagging on the hanging items.
My camp shoes will actually start out in my backpack, then if they get particularly muddy, or dirty can be strapped to the outside. I prefer to have as little as possible strapped outside the pack though to keep the pack as compact as possible. It also keep things, branches, etc., from snagging on the hanging items.
Total Pack Weight 8 days = 31lbs 2.49oz
I do take one completely unnecessary item, and that's my little stuffed cat, Courageous Chloe. Chloe has been hiking with me since 2008 and I see no reason not to take her backpacking as well.
Another good tip is to tie a bandanna to your strap. It's great for wiping sweat, dirt, or water, from your face.
This is the first pack I've had with hip pockets. I'm pretty excited about those. I can finally keep my camera, lip balm, bug spray, mace, and various other often needed items within easy reach.
In case you're wondering, this is a GoLite Quest Womens. It weighs in at just 2lbs 15oz, which is awesome because my last pack was a really cheap starter pack and weighed 4.8lbs. I can't speak to the functionality of this pack yet as I haven't backpacked with it, though it feels very comfortable fully loaded, and the load doesn't sway like it did with my other pack.
Another good tip is to tie a bandanna to your strap. It's great for wiping sweat, dirt, or water, from your face.
This is the first pack I've had with hip pockets. I'm pretty excited about those. I can finally keep my camera, lip balm, bug spray, mace, and various other often needed items within easy reach.
In case you're wondering, this is a GoLite Quest Womens. It weighs in at just 2lbs 15oz, which is awesome because my last pack was a really cheap starter pack and weighed 4.8lbs. I can't speak to the functionality of this pack yet as I haven't backpacked with it, though it feels very comfortable fully loaded, and the load doesn't sway like it did with my other pack.
You'll notice I'm missing a few, seemingly essential items, like a shelter. Sidetrack carries these items. He carries the following shared items = tent, ground cloth, water filter, and a roll of toilet paper.